Milk-bottle receptacle



E. E. BAlL.

MILK BOTTLE RECEPTACLE. APP'LLCATION FILED SEPT.2, 1920.

ELMER E. BAIL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.-

MILK-BOTTLE REGEPTACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24 1921..

Application filed September 2, 1920. Serial No. 407,?10.

To all whom it may ooncem Be it known that I, ELMER E. BAIL, a c tizenof the United States of America. residing at Pittsburgh, in the countyof Al legheny and State of Pennsylvania, have 1nvented new and usefulImprovements in Milk-Bottle Receptacles, of which the fol lowing is aspecification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and relativelylnexpensive receptacle or container for milk bottles designed to protecta full bottle on delivery by the merchant to prevent surreptltiousremoval thereof while permitting ready access to the householder orproprietor of the receptacle for whose benefit the delivery has beenmade, and for retaining an empty bottle in position to be readilyremoved on the collecting tour of the merchant without necessitating theuse of special unlockmg means such as a key or the equivalent thereof;and with these objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment isshown in the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 isa front view of a bottle receptacle or container embodyingthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the upper portion of the receptacle to show thehinge mounting of the lid or cover.

The device embodies essentially a casing 10 in which is arranged avertically movable trap or platform 11 mounted for example upon a pivotpin 12 and carrying a latch arm 13 for engagement with an opening 14 ina catch arm 15 which depends within the receptacle from the cover 16,said cover be ing hinged as indicated at 17 and being actuated by aspring 18 tending to yieldingly hold a cover raised or open and to raisethe same when released.

The receptacle may be provided with any suitable means for attachment toa fixed object such as a door-post or frame or the equivalent thereof,the drawing showlng oppositely extending brackets 19 for th1s purpose.

A combined platform or trap, whlch is adapted to support a milk bottleas indicated at 20, and the latch arm which are adapted for simultaneousmovement, are preferably provided with an actuating spring 21 bearingfor example against the latch arm and serving to counterbalance theweight of the platform or trap, so that when the platform is not loadedor when an empty bottle is resting thereon, the spring 21 will serve tomaintain the latch arm out of engaging relation with the catch on thecover or lid. When, however, a full bottle of milk is deposited upon theplatform or trap it serves to depress the latter and thus swing thelatch arm in opposition to the tension of the spring 21 into engagingrelation to the catch of the cover or lid, so that when the latter isswung to a closed position, as by the milkman after depositing thebottle in the receptacle, the lid will be engaged and held in its closedposition subject only to release for the removal of the bottle by theuse of a key 22 for the insertion of which a key hole 23 is arranged inthe front wall of the casing.

It will thus be seen that whereas an empty bottle may be arranged in thereceptacle for free removal by the milkman in collecting suchreceptacles, the casing being in a nor mally open position to give readyaccess thereto for this purpose, the introduction of a filled bottle bythe milkman will dispose the parts so as to effect the locking of thelid or cover when depressed to a closed position, so that the fullbottle can be removed only by releasing the lid or cover through the useof a key which is in the possession of the householder or maid or otherperson authorized to remove the contents of the receptacle.

Having described the invention. I claim:

1. A milk bottle receptacle having a casing provided with a movable lidor cover, a pivotal latch arm for engaging said lid or cover andyieldingly held in its inoperative position, and a pivotal platform ortrap arranged in the casing and connected with the latch arm forsupporting a milk bottle, and movable by a filled bottle in oppositionto the tension of said latch actuating spring for disposing the latch inengaging relation with the lid or cover.

2. A milk bottle receptacle having a casing provided with a movable lidor cover having a catch element provided with an opening, a transverselydisposed pin rockingly mounted in the casing adjacent its lower end, atrap or platform carried by Said pin, a latch arm carried on theextremity of said pin and terminally formed to engage the opening in thecatch element, and a spring bearing on the latch arm to normally holdthe latter in disengaging position Wherebythe said latch arm is broughtinto engaging position upon the disposition of a milk'bottle on the saidtrap or platform.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ELMER E. BAIL.

